Examination of the illuminations in the manuscript listed as inventory no. 03972, entitled Divan-ı Muradî, preserved in the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library

This study aims to examine the illuminated sections of the Divan-ı Murâdî, catalogued under inventory number 03972 and preserved in the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library. The decorative components of the manuscript were identified, with particular attention paid to the frontispiece (serlevha), chapter headings (fasıl başları), marginal decorations, and ruling (cetvel) applications. The purpose of the research is to identify the illumination examples present in the work and to evaluate these examples within the framework of traditional Turkish ornamentation. During the analysis, the principal types of motifs, color preferences, ruling arrangements, and compositional schemes observed in the illuminated areas were documented. A qualitative, visually based research approach was adopted. The illuminated sections were directly examined and recorded through sketch studies. In this context, motifs, color harmonies, ruling lines, and ornamental elements in the chapter headings were reinterpreted through a drawing-based method, and the distinctive features of the illuminated areas were assessed through these sketches. Furthermore, the identified illumination examples were compared, at a general level, with those in a similar divan manuscript, and the repetition of motifs and color harmony within the chapter-heading compositions was evaluated. The findings demonstrate that the illuminated folios of the Divan-ı Murâdî reflect a decorative approach consistent with the traditional manuscript culture. It was determined that motifs are positioned harmoniously within the composition, that color balance is maintained, and that ruling practices support the integrity of the page layout. In addition, in the illuminated chapter headings, a clear aesthetic order is observed, and the ornamental program serves as a visual emphasis guiding the flow of the text. This study presents a descriptive assessment of the illumination characteristics of the Divan-ı Murâdî and provides a foundational framework for future research on traditional Turkish illumination.